Matthew Robertson Named Rangers' Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Nominee
After four years grinding in the AHL, Matthew Robertson has earned every bit of this. The Rangers named him their Bill Masterton nominee, and it's hard to argue with the pick.
Every year, each team in the NHL nominates a player for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award is given to a player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey."
This year, per Mollie Walker of The New York Post, the Rangers have named Matthew Robertson their nominee.
Matthew Robertson is this year’s #NYR nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.”
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) April 8, 2026
Drafted in the second round (49th overall) in the 2019 draft, it has been a long journey for Robertson to make it to the NHL. Spending four full seasons in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, it was looking like Robertson wasn't ever going to be on the Rangers' radar. Throughout those four seasons, Robertson was a staple on Hartford's blue line, averaging about 63 games played and 20 points per season. Those efforts finally paid off when Robertson got the call up to the Rangers at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, appearing in their final two games of the regular season.
Robertson looked like he belonged and that carried into the following preseason, making the Rangers opening night roster. While he began the year mainly as a seventh defenseman, Robertson quickly became a regular in the lineup and picked up his first NHL goal within the first month of the season.
Appearing in a total of 68 games throughout his rookie season, projected to finish the year with a total of 72 games played, Robertson has been a steady two-way defender that can be trusted in his own end, while contributing some secondary offense every now and again. In those 68 games, Robertson has collected a total of five goals and 12 assists for 17 points on the season—not far off from his AHL production. Robertson has even gotten time on ice in 3-on-3 overtime where he scored the game-winner in a late January outing against the Boston Bruins.
Robertson's story has been a great example of perseverance and dedication. Not everyone gets drafted and immediately goes from a season or two in the AHL to making an impact at the NHL level. Often times, players go back-and-forth before establishing themselves as a regular, others spend longer than desired time in the minors, and some never get that call at all. Despite being a higher draft pick, Robertson never complained or resented the Rangers for not rushing to get him to the NHL. Instead, he stayed the course, played his game, and the results speak for themselves.
One of 32 total nominee's (you can see the full list here) Robertson may be a bit of a longshot to win the award, but it is a well-deserved honor for a young player who plays an honest game with a great attitude.
Congrats, Robertson!
